Sioux Falls SHUT-IT-DOWN Rally Draws a Pro-Life Crowd

On December 5, 2014, the Planned Parenthood clinic closed its doors in Rapid City, SD. When that occurred it left South Dakota with only one Planned Parenthood clinic and that one exists to this day in Sioux Falls, SD. Abortions were not performed at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Rapid City, though abortion referral was a listed service. Today, the Planned Parenthood clinic in Sioux Falls does offer abortions.

On Sunday, October 4, 2015, well over 100 pro-life moms, dads, grandparents and youth gathered at the O’Gorman Catholic High School football stadium in Sioux Falls, SD for a very special two hour event. This timely and critical experience was called a “Shut it Down” Rally. At the same time this Rally was being held hundreds of other pro-life activities lined the streets of Sioux Falls in the annual LIFE CHAIN event.

FHA Executive Director Dale Bartscher was asked to EMCEE the Rally and share his heart on the issue at hand. In Dale’s opening remarks he said in part:

“Today, II Chronicles 7:14 is our heart’s cry. The Word of God, speaking to those of us who claim to live under the authority of Jehovah God, charges and challenges us saying:

‘If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.’

We who are gathered here certainly must understand that our NATION needs a HEALING today. When the videos exposing the abortion industry were first released, some were shocked. As the videos have gotten worse revealing that Planned Parenthood allegedly participates in infanticide for profit, the shock has grown to anger; anger that our nation and our government not only allows this barbarity to continue, but subsidizes it with our tax dollars. The harvesting, trafficking, and selling baby parts in “high volume” as evidenced by the heartbreaking videos from the Center for Medical Progress makes it even more strikingly clear that abortion giant Planned Parenthood is engaged in the full-scale exploitation of women and children.

But honestly, none of this should be surprising to us. We’ve known. We’ve always known. That’s why we’re pro-life. That’s why we have fought to protect innocent life for so long. While the culture, media and most of the population hide behind false notions of choice and women’s health care, the reality of what happens behind the doors of facilities like this one all across the nation is just as barbaric as we always thought it was. It’s profit ahead of life.”

The Rally was filled with music, scripture, prayers and numerous speakers both locally and nationally. Following this Rally a large group of pro-life activists made there way to the Planned Parenthood clinic to pray for an end to this scourge on America and to exhibit a visible presence for LIFE. Yes, Sunday, October 4, was a good day for LIFE in South Dakota.